[i]Skylanders Superchargers[/i] provides what we've come to expect from the series: high production values, fun for all ages, and reminders that you could spend a whole lot more on additional toys to play with.

“Dad , we can be two guys!”says six-year-old Theo, ever the fan of local co-op. “I’ll be this guy” he decides, grabbing the coiling blue flame techno-dragon awaiting a call to action from the top of entertainment cabinet. But that’s not all that’s sitting there: “I’ll drive the car, too!” he adds enthusiastically, pointing at the dragon’s ride.

Welcome (parents everywhere) to Skylanders Superchargers, the latest iteration of the monster monsters-to-life franchise from Activision. Theo maybe isn’t the most discerning video game critic yet, but he knows what he likes, and Activision’s probably extensive market research department knows what he likes too, because this time around they’ve dropped vehicles into their successful franchise – no doubt to the joy of Theos everywhere.

The dragon’s car is a chunky little flame-scorched hot-rod called Hot Streak, and it’s eagerly road-tested by two children rolling it around the carpet on its solid little blue wheels and making “brrrm!” noises before we even get it into the game.